Man on charge of murdering his mother in care home

A man has been returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court after he was charged with the murder of his mother at a nursing home in Co Waterford earlier this year.

Father of one Gerard Vollrath (45) had previously been charged with the manslaughter of his mother, Veronica (Vera) Vollrath (83), at Killure Bridge Nursing Home, Killure, Co Waterford, on January 9th.

At Waterford District Court yesterday, Garda Insp Anthony Dineen told Judge Kevin Staunton the State was bringing a new charge of murder against Mr Vollrath, and he applied to have the previous manslaughter charge struck out.

Det Garda Maureen Neary gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to the new charge and she told the court how Mr Vollrath replied “no comment” when the new charge of murder was put to him after caution.

Garda Insp Dineen applied for a short adjournment to allow gardaí to serve the book of evidence on Mr Vollrath. He later confirmed this had been done and said the DPP had consented to Mr Vollrath being sent forward for trial to the next sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, which start today.

Judge Staunton gave Mr Vollrath a warning that if he intended to rely on alibi evidence in his defence, he must notify the prosecution of his intention to do so within 14 days of yesterday’s court appearance.

He remanded Mr Vollrath in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court today.